Reports

Stopping Iran’s Illicit Nuclear Procurement

Iran has continued to buy essential materials for its heavy water reactor at Arak, according to a leaked United Nations report.

Commentators have since weighed in on whether this procurement, which is clearly in breach of UN sanctions, would also violate the interim agreement signed by America, Britain, France, Germany, China, Russia (or P5+1) and Iran in Geneva in November last year placing constraints on the latter’s nuclear programme.

This deal, known as the Joint Plan of Action (JPOA), freezes essential work on the Arak facility, but it does not explicitly mention procurement. In any case, Iran’s decision to continue buying material for this plant is unacceptable. Any long term agreement with Iran must ensure that illicit nuclear procurement is both prohibited and prevented.